Tsukuda Island in Musashi Province c. 1834 - 1837

Hokumyō created this woodblock print titled 'Tsukuda Island in Musashi Province' in the 1830s. Dominating the horizon is Mount Fuji, a powerful symbol deeply embedded in Japanese cultural identity. Fuji's serene, snow-capped peak rises above the everyday world of labor depicted in the foreground. The mountain, revered as sacred, often appears in art as a symbol of stability, beauty, and the sublime. Like the mountains in Caspar David Friedrich’s landscapes, it invites contemplation and a connection to something greater than oneself. Yet, here, Fuji is juxtaposed with the bustling activity of Tsukuda Island. Small boats filled with figures engaged in labor crisscross the water, their presence a reminder of the transient nature of human life against the eternal backdrop of the mountain. The contrast suggests a cyclical rhythm—the enduring symbol of Fuji, seen and reimagined across generations, and the daily lives of the fishermen, each adding a layer to the island’s story. It’s a poignant interplay between the monumental and the momentary, echoing through the ages.